Knightley to take on 'My Fair Lady' role

Knightley is said to be in talks to play the role of the Cockney flower girl who is taught to speak like an aristocrat by Professor Henry Higgins in the musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1912 play Pygmalion.

It is not clear whether this will be a stage or film version, but Knightley was said to be "studying the script madly" while filming the sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean in the Bahamas.

Knightley has reportedly said she is prepared to appear on film or on Broadway as Doolittle, after being approached by Sir Cameron Mackintosh to play the role. The new version of the show will be directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, who worked with Sir Cameron on his 2001 stage version of My Fair Lady with the former EastEnders actress Martine McCutcheon taking the lead role.

The character of Eliza Doolittle was made famous in 1964 by Audrey Hepburn who won the film role from the actress and singer Julie Andrews, who starred in the original stage version.